Naseba (Euronext Paris: MLNSB) has announced the launch of the most prestigious investor awards of the MENA region, ‘MENA Investor Awards 2009’, as part of the ‘MENA Investors Summit’(www.menainvestors.com), which will be held November 1st and 2nd at the Four Seasons Hotel, Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, KSA. The Summit is the first ever investor focused, deal flow initiative in the MENA region and will focus on introducing capital to lucrative opportunities. The awards will recognize excellence in investment strategy by MENA based leaders in investments and finance.
The upcoming Summit will feature detailed discussions of the latest trends expected to significantly affect international affairs and business in the Gulf including investment prospects, business dynamics in the emerging markets, burgeoning sectors and regions in the world, understanding returns on capital injection private business and development project under the current financial circumstances, financial institutions and long term and short term investment vehicles.
Commenting on the event, C. Scott Ragsdale, Chairman of naseba Group said:
“As the world begins to bounce back from what has been referred to as the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, we can learn from those dynamic MENA investors who did not get sucked into the storm of “irrational exuberance” of this era. Whether they were focused on Shariah-compliant vehicles or simply had more foresight than others, these MENA based leaders will be awarded for their peerless strategic investment strategy.”
Only 28 companies will be allowed to present investment opportunities to up to 350 of the most dynamic and influential investors in the world, in an exclusive, private one to one meeting format. These 28 companies will be representing seven different industries, limited to four companies per industry: I.T., healthcare, clean tech, infrastructure, hospitality, financial services, and real-estate, offering tangible returns on investment potential for all attending investors.
Extensively pre-qualified investors including sovereign funds, institutional, ultra high net-worth individuals, family business owners, and royal families will attend to discuss the latest investment strategies and access cutting edge global investment opportunities. The event will feature debates on key topics by regional executives including: Rami Alturki, President, Alturki Group; Walid Basoudan, President & CEO, Saudi Masader Co.; Mohamed Qaryan Al-Qahtani, Chairman, Al Qaryan Group; Brad Bourland, Chief Economist, Jadwa Investments; Georges Schorderet, Chief Financial Officer, Almarai Company; John Sfakianakis, Chief Economist, Banque Saudi Fransi – Credit Agricole; Rizwan Shakoor, Group CFO, Noor Islamic Bank.
The awards have already seen significant interest from some of the most influential regional investors including a number of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world, family offices and other prominent investors.
The categories for ‘MENA Investor Awards 2009’ include: Excellence in investments by a sovereign wealth fund; Excellence in investments by a private institutional investor; Best mutual fund; Best private equity firm; Best investment practices in key industry sectors including energy, infrastructure, healthcare, hospitality, real estate and information technology; Family businesses and family offices awards.